Nett Hoojakju.

For several days, Relia hasn’t stepped a foot outside the bedroom. Although more than four days have passed since she came out of the dreadful prison, she still felt the chill throughout her body, just like when she was imprisoned.

It was an experience that could only be described as horrific. She had never imagined experiencing such a thing in her life.

“It’s all because of… ”

Because of Ibelia.

Relia swallowed the name that was synonymous with putting her in prison. It was terrifying to mention her name like a well-trained dog, even though she hadn’t undergone severe torture. If she uttered that name again, it seemed like she might be imprisoned again and never come out.

Yet, her hatred towards Ibelia escalated to an extreme. Just recalling her name made her teeth grind.

“I wish she were dead.”

With bloodshot eyes, Relia mumbled while glaring into the air. Her appearance was not only poisoned but also filled with madness. If Ibelia were in front of her at that moment, she might not have hesitated to rush and strangle her.

The symptoms that had worsened during her imprisonment showed no improvement even after her release. As a result, even the maid who had been with her for a long time was hesitant to approach her.

So, if Relia didn’t seek her, the maid only found her during the early morning, before bed, and occasionally during meals. However, unexpectedly, a knocking sound echoed suddenly into the quiet bedroom.

The one who opened the door and revealed herself was her longtime maid.

“Um… Miss.”

She approached Relia with a frightened face. However, Relia only stared into the air without giving the maid a glance.

From the maid’s perspective, it was a sufficiently frightening sight to feel fear. She wanted to leave immediately, but there was something she needed to convey to her owner.

The maid took a deep breath and stood still in front of Relia. Then, with a cautious voice, she spoke.

“Uh, Miss. Just now, a scorpion arrived at the palace. If Miss has recovered well, it would be good to go to the empress’s palace… I mean, it would be nice…”

“What did you say?”

Relia, who had been glaring into the air, suddenly raised her body and stared at the maid. With such an abrupt change in attitude, the maid shook her body like a frightened bird.

“F-from the… palace.”

“No, what’s next?”

“The empress’s palace, you mean…?”

In response to the fearful voice of the maid, a dangerous light flickered in Relia’s eyes for a moment. It couldn’t be helped.

She thought she had been abandoned. Because she was not taken out of prison even after a long time, because she was treated coldly without seeing Duke Garnet, who had briefly visited. Even after being released from prison, he didn’t look for her at all. But now, a scorpion was sent from the empress’s palace.

“Write a reply that you’ll go right away and send it to the empress’s palace. Hold on to my appearance for a while.”
Upon the command of the maid, Relia abruptly rose from her seat. For several days, she had refrained from eating and drinking, and it was unclear where she found the energy.

Relia’s appearance instilled even more fear in the maid. However, she couldn’t ignore her owner’s command.

The maid, tearfully, followed Relia to raise her spirits.

Around lunchtime, Felix, sitting with crossed legs, intensely observed the back of Caliph, who was looking at the wall. More precisely, it was the reflection of Caliph in the mirror hanging on the wall.

It was impossible to see him elegantly. Exactly four days ago, after seeming to handle the situation well with Ibelia, his complexion became pale. The times when he worried about him now felt futile.

Although now was much better than the appearance of him who seemed to stab himself with a knife in his heart, without a hint of regret, than the moment he thought he would end his life at any moment, it was still hard to accept this vividly different appearance.

Moreover, acting like she was going to die anytime, constantly looking at the mirror in anticipation of the promise with Ibelia, it wouldn’t look pretty.

“Why, are you planning to dress up nicely? To meet Ibelia in a pretty appearance?”

Felix, unable to bear it any longer, said sarcastically. However, Caliph remained silent and indifferent to the provocation.

“Hey, can’t you hear me again? Is that right? I thought you had a unique ability, but it seems it’s not that special. The ability to only hear what you want to hear while picking people apart.”

Felix’s voice was full of spite. Whether it worked or not, Caliph, who hadn’t shown any reaction, turned around.

“Don’t be sulky.”

“Huh, so I’ll be honored to sulk a little more.”

“It’s not worth responding to.”

After Caliph’s warning, Felix, who continued to sulk, clenched his fist and expressed his grievances like a viper.

“Isn’t this too much? Do you know how worried I was about you? But you don’t even listen to me. Can a person change so much with just one word from Ibelia, saying not to go?”